Photo by James Short.
Both the other driver and police allege she was intoxicated at the time of the accident.
One Norristown driver is facing multiple charges after a hit-and-run incident in Whitpain Township, according to police.
Whitpain Township Police Department said they responded to a caller who claimed, at around 7:40 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 14, his vehicle was struck by another vehicle in the area of Skippack Pike near School Road, within the township. The caller said that he was traveling east on Skippack Pike, approaching School Road, attempting to turn left, via the left-turn lane.
At the same time, according to reports, the caller stated that a grey Nissan Altima was attempting to make a right turn onto Skippack Pike from School Road. In doing so, police said, the driver “swerved and sideswiped [the caller’s] vehicle.”
According to police, the Nissan was driven by a female who did not stop upon striking the caller’s car, and instead continued west on Skippack Pike, making a left onto Union Meeting Road from Skippack Pike. The caller, reports said, followed the Nissan south onto Union Meeting Road, reporting that the Nissan then made a right turn onto Jolly Road. At Jolly Road and Arch Street Road, police said, the Nissan pulled to the shoulder and stopped.
The original caller said that female appeared to be intoxicated, according to police reports. He said that he told the female he was also on the phone with Montgomery County Dispatch, and she replied, “I’m leaving,” the man told police. When the woman continued south on Arch Street Road, the man stayed at the intersection to await authorities, said reports.
Around 7:45 p.m., per reports, police arrived at the scene and were given a partial plate from the male caller. Police said they utilized the license plate reader system to find a Nissan Altima with the partial tag provided by the caller. Once located, the police said they were able to obtain the registration and the car’s owner.
Patricia E. Watson, 45, of the 500 block of Astor Street in Norristown, was confirmed to be the owner and operator of the Nissan, police said, by showing the caller her DMV photograph, and him saying that she was the driver at the time of the incident, reports stated.
After obtaining a phone number for Watson, police said they called her and she answered, stating she was, in fact, the driver at the time of the crash. She admitted to police that she left the scene and said she was “scared” of the male driver, said reports. Police said that Watson’s speech on the phone was slurred. Watson told police, according to reports, that she had consumed alcoholic beverages.
Police said, via reports, there was grey paint transferred from the Nissan to the caller’s car. Watson is charged with an Accident involving damage to an attended vehicle, Failing to stop and give information or render aid, Careless driving, and Disregarding a traffic lane.
She is schedule to face a preliminary hearing on Oct. 17 at 11:30 a.m. before Magisterial District Judge Suzan Leonard.
All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using public court records.
